Barber License Requirements in Alaska
- Training hours
- 1650 hrs
- Upfront cost
- $420
- Exam
- Barber Styling Examination (NIC-authored)
- Renewal cycle
- Every 2 years
- Issuing board
- Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Dept. of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development)
How to get licensed
- 1
Meet the prerequisites
Meet the eligibility requirements set by the issuing board. No minimum age specific to barber licensure was found in AS 08.13 or 12 AAC 09 (the statute sets an 18-minimum only for tattoo/permanent-cosmetic-color/body-piercing trainees, a different license category) — left as null rather than assumed. No fingerprint-based or criminal-history background check requirement was found for barber applicants; the application does include self-disclosed 'professional fitness' questions about prior charges/convictions, reviewed case-by-case, but this is not a formal background check. [4]
- 2
Complete approved training
Complete 1650 hours of training at a state-approved program. 1,650 hours of training at an approved school, or 2,000 hours through a board-approved apprenticeship program (apprenticeship route also requires passing a proficiency test administered by the sponsoring school or instructor). Alaska separately licenses a 'Non-Chemical Barber' (no chemical services) at reduced hour minimums: 1,350 school hours or 1,600 apprenticeship hours. An applicant short on hours may substitute full-time work experience (averaging 32+ hrs/week) for one or two years, per 12 AAC 09.095. [1]
- 3
Barber Styling Examination (NIC-authored)
Pass the Barber Styling Examination (NIC-authored) (fee: $90). Computer-administered, National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology (NIC) written examination; taken at a Prov testing center or remotely from home. Only a written exam is required through Prov; the hands-on proficiency/practical test is administered separately by the applicant's school or apprenticeship instructor during training, not by the state as a second licensing exam. [2]
- 4
Submit your application
Submit your application to Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Dept. of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development) with the $150 application fee. [1]
- 5
Receive your license
Once your application is approved, Alaska Board of Barbers and Hairdressers (Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, Dept. of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development) issues your Barber License for Alaska.
Fees
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Application fee [1] | $150 |
| License fee [1] | $180 |
| Renewal fee [1] | $180 |
| Barber Styling Examination (NIC-authored) [2] | $90 |
Application fee ($150, nonrefundable) and Initial License fee ($180) total $330 for licensure by examination or by waiver of examination; the license fee may be paid up front or upon passing the exam. The $90 written exam fee is paid directly to Prov and is tracked as a separate exam-vendor fee above, not a Board fee.
Renewal & continuing education
Renew every 2 years.
Licenses are issued for a 2-year term and all expire together on August 31 of odd-numbered years, regardless of issuance date (licenses issued within 90 days of expiration roll to the next biennial cycle). Biennial renewal fee is $180 for licenses first issued on or before August 31, 2024, or a prorated $90 for licenses first issued on or after September 1, 2024. No continuing-education hour requirement for barbers was found in statute or on the renewal form; renewal processing takes 4-6 weeks by mail (online renewal is typically immediate).
Reciprocity
Endorsement/reciprocity from another state is available.
No interstate compact covers barbering. Alaska offers 'Licensure by Waiver of Examination' ($330 total: $150 application + $180 initial license) for an applicant who holds a current license from another state board and has already passed a written and practical/proficiency exam there — verification of training, examination, and licensure must be sent directly from the other state board. Applicants who haven't passed such exams elsewhere must test in Alaska. A Temporary Permit ($430 total, valid up to 6 months) lets an out-of-state license holder work in Alaska while the permanent application is processed.
Cost calculator
- $150
- $180
- $90
Frequently asked questions
How many training hours does Alaska require for a Barber license?
1,650 hours at an approved school, or 2,000 hours through a board-approved apprenticeship. A reduced-scope Non-Chemical Barber license requires 1,350 school hours or 1,600 apprenticeship hours.
Who administers Alaska's barber licensing exam?
Prov, Inc. administers the written exam (based on National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology content) for $90, either at a Prov testing center or remotely from home. There is no separate state-administered hands-on exam — a proficiency test is completed during training instead.
How much does it cost to get licensed as a barber in Alaska?
$150 nonrefundable application fee plus $180 initial license fee ($330 total), separate from the $90 Prov written exam fee.
How often does an Alaska barber license need to be renewed?
Every 2 years — all licenses expire together on August 31 of odd-numbered years. The biennial renewal fee is $180 (or a prorated $90 for licenses first issued on or after September 1, 2024).
Can I transfer my out-of-state barber license to Alaska?
Yes, through Licensure by Waiver of Examination, if you hold a current license from another state and have already passed a written and practical/proficiency exam there. Your prior state board must send verification of your training, exam, and licensure directly to the Alaska division.
Sources
- [1] commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/bah4796.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [2] commerce.alaska.gov/web/Portals/5/pub/ProvCIB.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [3] commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/bah4619.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11
- [4] commerce.alaska.gov/web/portals/5/pub/BAH_Stats_Regs.pdf — accessed 2026-07-11